Most people who suffer from asthma are all too familiar with its symptoms and its causes. Amazingly enough, however, there are many people with asthma who don’t realize it -- who chalk their symptoms up to allergies and leave it at that. There are also rare but very serious cases of asthma that can cause prolonged, chronic illness or, in a worst-case scenario, death.

During an asthma attack, the airway gets inflamed and constricts. Mucus production increases, and breathing becomes very difficult -- like breathing through a straw. Asthma sufferers notice anything from slight discomfort to wheezing to burning lungs. The one common current is that they can’t get enough air.

One of the main things that sets asthma apart from colds, allergies, and other respiratory infections is that it’s chronic: that is, it doesn’t go away. Of course, some people have recurring seasonal allergies without having asthma, and some people have asthma primarily triggered by seasonal allergies. An important distinction, though, is that seasonal allergies tend to have good days and bad. Asthma tends to react strongly to the same stimulus every time.

But let’s face it: if you suffer from asthma, it doesn’t matter that much where it came from. What matters is what triggers it and how you can handle your reaction. There are many common triggers for asthmatics, including allergies, weather changes, dust mites, and a wide variety of other culprits lurking around your home and possibly even your bed.

It’s up to you to take control of your asthma. There are many different ways to do this, but the three main ones are through medication, through homeopathic remedies, and through environmental control. If you use a combination of these three methods, most people can control their asthma quite effectively and live perfectly normal lives.

Depending on the severity of your asthma, there are many different types of medication a doctor might prescribe. The most important things you can do are become aware about these different medications and their side effects and take the medication regularly as prescribed.

Many people also believe that certain herbs, foods, diets, etc. can greatly assist in managing your asthma. Some find these homeopathic remedies very effective.

The most important thing you can do, though, is control your environment by limiting your exposure to allergens. HEPA filters, frequent cleaning, hypoallergenic mattress covers, and mattress cleanings are all great ways to minimize allergens in your environment.

It doesn’t take much effort to control your asthma, but it does take some willpower and determination. Still, the end results are more than worth the few minutes it takes to create an allergen-free environment or do a bit of dusting!